Machine for



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. R. BUMGARNER AND L. WHITE, OF DAVENPORT, IOW'A.

MACHINE FOR DRESSING HIDES AND LEATHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN R. BUMGAR- NER and LYMAN WHITE, of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Machine for Hide and Leather Dressing; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification 1n which- Figure l, is aplan or top view of a hide or leather dressing machine constructed with our improvements. Fig. 2, is a vertical transverse section of the same. Fig. 3, is a detached vertical section of the knife carriage showing, on an enlarged scale, a device for clearing the knives of any matter which would be likely to clog their cutting action. Figs. 5 and 6, are plan views of the different frames and tools which are used in the process of dressing hides or skins.

Similar letters of reference in each of the severa-l figures indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of our invention consists, first, in the combination, by means substantially as hereinafter specified, of two carriages moving at right angles to each other, one having an intermittent longitudinal motion and serving for feeding the hides or skins to the action of the dressing frames, and the other having a transverse reciprocating motion and serving for carrying and moving the dressing frames across the hides or skins.

It consists second, in a peculiar manner of constructing the intermittent carriage whereby .hides or skins of different sizes can be clamped and distended on the same.

It consists third, in the automatic device, hereinafter specified, for clearing the knives just after the completion of their movement from one edge of the hide or skin to the other, of all matter which may have accumulated on them and which would be likely to clog their action.

It consists fourth, in the peculiar arrangement hereinafter specified for adjusting the height of the dressing carriage so that it shall lie horizontally or obliquely, and thus suit hides of various thicknesses and irregular surfaces.

To enable others, skilled in the art, to make and use our invention, we will proceed ,to describe its construction and operation.

A, represents the frame of the machine Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,861, dated July 13, 41858.

constructed with an opening in its top so as to receive the hide or skin carriage B. The hide carriage is fitted snugly but loosely between bevel ways a, a, and supported by cross bars o, b, of the frame. This carriage is provided with a longitudinal clamping bar C, at one edge, and a series of screw clamps c, c, c, at the opposite edge. The clamping bar, and screw clamps serve for confining and distending the hide on the carriage B. The clamping bar is connected to the carriage by means of a series of screw straps CZ, and nuts c, as shown and is brought into action or thrown out of action by means of eccentrics f, on a rod g, which is passed through said straps as shown in the drawing. By turning the rod in one direction the clamping bar is made to bite upon the edge of the hide, and by turning it in an opposite direction it is made to release its hold upon the same. The screw clamps are made effective for confining the opposite edge of the hide by forcing down the screws h, after the edge of the hide has been brought under the clamps; and, of course, by raising the screws the clamps release their hold upon the hide. In order to hold the hide at a yielding tension the clamps c,c,are arranged to bear against spiral springs z', z', and in order to adapt the carriage to narrow or wide hides, the carriage top is made in sections j, j, y', which are capable of sliding laterally by means of grooves Z, Z, and tongues m, m, the grooves being formed in the bed of the carriage and the tongues on the sections of the top of the same; the extension or the contraction of the width of the top being accomplished by the insertion of a wedge section y, as illustrated in the drawing.

D, is the carriage which carries either of the dressing frames shown in Figs. 1, fl, 5, and 6, of the drawing. This carriage is furnished with grooves or supporting guides n, n., a, n, for either of said frames to fit, and be confined in by means of a clamping adjustable bar 02, and screws o', o, 0, o. It also has two stop bars p, p, to prevent the same having lateral play independently of the carriage D. The carriage D, is supported by means of four vertically sliding standards g, g, Q, g, and four set screws 1", 1", r, 1", of the frame A. The sliding standards are connected by means of levers s, s, s, s, and cords t, t, to a longitudinal windlass shaft u, so that by turning the shaft u, they may be raised or lowered to suit hides of different thicknesses. l/Vhen the standards have been adjusted to the desired height, they are retained in this position by means of a ratchet o, and pawl w, the latter being on the frame A, and the former on the windlass shaft u. It will be observed that the short ends of the levers rest upon the screws r, r, r, 11,' the object of this is to support the standards, and also that the carriage may be elevated so that the knives shall take a deeper or shallowcr cut, and likewise that the carriage may be elevated at either side or inclined slightly and thereby be adapted for dressing` hides which gradually increase in thickness from one end to the other.

The frame E, has three or more currying or shaving knives fr, m, arranged in it as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so as to cut successively, one a little deeper than the other, said knives being held at their ends in boxes y, y, by means of set screws e, e, so as to cut either at right angles or oblique to the movement of the hide carriage. The set screws serving for adjusting them as may be found necessary. Arranged in front and extending` down near the edge of each of the knives is an automatic clearing device Gr, which vibrates back and forth and clears the knives just after the completion of each movement of the same, of all matter which may have collected on them and would be likely to clog their action. This clearing device and t-he hide carriage and the dressing frame carriage are combined, so as to be operated b the turning of a single crank shaft H; through the following arrangement of mechanism.

I, is a chain for propelling the hide carriage back and forth. It is passed under two revolving shafts J, J, of the frame below the hide carriage and has its two ends carried in opposite directions over said shafts and attached to the front and back ends of the hide carriage as shown in red in Fig. l.

K, L, M, represent a trip ratchetfeed movement for effecting a gradual intermittent circular motion of the shafts which carry the propelling chain I, of the hide carriage. rThis ratchet movement is operated by means of an arm N, which projects from the rear end of the dressing frame carriage, said arm coming in contact with the trip K, of said movement after the carriage has passed across the hide and is about completing its return movement. It is essential to thus accomplish the feeding along of the carriage at the time when the cutting is not being performed as it is found that the knives operate more perfectly when the hides are kept stationary during their shaving action and also that the hides have a smoother appearance and finish.

O, O, are two elbow levers arranged on top of the knife frame, one of these levers connects with the clearing device G, and both connect with a connecting rod F, of a trip lever Q, as shown in Fig. 1. With this arrangement when the knife or dressing frame carriage commences its return movement the trip lever Q, comes in contact with a projection R, of the frame A, and is retained sufficiently long before it has a chance to escape to cause the clearing device to have a longitudinal movement in front of the knives and thereby effect the removal therefrom of all matter which may have collected on them.

S, T, is a ratchetfeed movement for effecting the automatic elevation of the knife or dressing frame carriage in its return movement and thus avoid marring the hides. The ratchet S, of this movement is on the windlass shaft u, while the pawl T, is on the `frame A. Vit-h this arrangement as the carriage makes its return movement a projection U, on the same comes in Contact Awith the ratchet lever and causes itI to turn the windlass shaft u, and through it and the cords t, t, levers s, s, sliding standards e', e, effect the elevation of t-he frame. As the carriage .moves back, another projection U strikes the lever T, and thereby unwinds the windlass cords and lowers the knife or dressing carriage. The motion from the crank shaft to the reciprocating knife carriage is transmitted by means of a pit-man V, as shown in the drawings.

In the drawings Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and S, we have represented the various styles of frames and boards which are used in the dressing and currying of the leather. All of these frames from the peculiar construction of the dressing frame carriage can be applied in the place occupied by the currying frame, and the boards Figs. 7 and 8 can be introduced below said frames for the purposes presently stated.

The board No. 7 in combination with the frame Fig. 5 serves for rolling the hides. Fig. 8, in combination with Fig. 6, for milling or softening the same. Fig. 4, W, for removing flesh, Fig. 4, Y, for unhairing and Fig. 4 X for bushing the hides. A similar device to X, being also used for blacking the leather.

Vhat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, by means substantially as herein specified of two carriages B, D, moving at right angles to each other, one having an intermittent longitudinal motion and serving for feeding the hides or skins to the action of the dressing frames and the other D, having a transverse reciprocating m-otion and serving for carrying and moving the dressing frames across the hides or skins, as set forth.

2. The peculiar manner of constructing and Windlass shaft u, substantially as and the intermittent carriage B, in sections, and for the purposes set forth. With long and short clamps C, c, whereby 5. The combination of the Windlass shafthides or skins of different sizes can be u, with the dressing frame carriage by 5 clamped and distended on the same; submeans of the ratchet movement S, T, and 20 stantially as and for the purposes set forth. the projections U, U, substantially as and 3. rIhe automatic device G, herein specifor the purposes set forth. fied for clearing the knives just after T T `the completion of their movement from one ER' l0 edge of the hide or skin to the other, of all matter which may have accumulated on l/Vitnesses:

them and which would be likely to clog G. YORKE AT LEE, their action as set forth. H. H. YOUNG, 4. The arrangement of the standards g, g, C. S. ACKLEY, 15 g, g, set screws 7", r, 1, 7^, levers s s s s cords t, t, E. K. THOMAS. 

